Sinkers

I prefer an assortment of removable, soft split shot. My favorite
manufacturer is Gremlin. They come in a rotating plastic box where the
sizes are well organized and easily dispensed. They are removable, so it
is relatively simple to change the sinkers quickly. You can take them off
the line and re-use them. They come in size B up to the much larger size
of 2. Their sizes are B, BB, 3/0, 7, 4, 3, and 2. Their removability is
due to the “ears” on the back of them which, when squeezed
together, splits them open for line removal. I prefer Water Gremlin
because of the ease with which their hinge opens and closes. I can pinch
them on with only

my fingers, but I use forceps to pinch them off.

Now there is a concern for the toxicity of lead. Use of lead is prohibited
in some waters. Water Gremlin also has a non-toxic shot which has a soft
hinge that works similarly to the lead ones.

I demand a soft split shot that can be easily pinched onto the line
without damaging the line, although I usually place the shot on a dropper
so it won’t weaken my direct line to the hook. Also, if I’m
snagged by the sinker, I will usually only lose the sinker.

I use split shot when fly fishing, bait fishing, stream fishing, and
placing in front of some plugs like flatfish. Wherever I need a little
extra weight for sinking or casting, split shot fills that bill. A split
shot attached to a single hook makes a fast jig head.

The next sinker I like is a slip sinker
egg or oval shape. A hole runs through the middle axis of the sinker. I
simply run my line through the hole, place a small bead, and tie on a
swivel. To this swivel I tie my leader and hook. The slip allows you to
feel light bites. Fish usually don’t want to drag the sinker around
with them. When they feel the resistance, they spit it out. Egg sinkers
are compact and an excellent weight for casting. Their shape discourages
most snags. They are useful for bottom fishing with bait and added to
plastic worm rigs.

Pencil lead is a favorite for drift fishing. It allows you to
inexpensively place heavier weights where the river’s heavy flows
would call for too many split shots. The pencil lead is attached by a one
inch section of surgical tubing. The pencil lead slides inside the tubing
and the elastic friction keeps the line, tubing, and pencil lead in place.
This means that it’s not only easy to rig but there are no knots to
weaken the rigging. It’s a favorite for steelhead and salmon
fishing.

The Slinky takes this one step further. It’s made up of lead or a
non-lead shot placed inside a sleeve of parachute cordage. The nylon cord
is burnt off and clamped down on both ends. A hole punch is used to make a
hole on one end to attach it by a snap swivel. The advantage is that the
slinky is flexible like a toy slinky. It is more difficult to snag and is
a favorite weighting system to fish over rocky and snaggy bottoms. The
diameter and number of shot can vary so you have an assortment of weights.
I like to rig this by running the line through the swivel, placing a bead,
and tying it to a plain barrel swivel. The leader and hook is attached to
this swivel. The slinky easily slides up the line and you have a good feel
for light strikes. Adding a buoyant corky just above the hook helps make
the hook float over the snag tops. The slinky is difficult to snag because
of its flexibility.

I use bank sinkers for back bouncing for salmon. I simply loop to the
sinker. I can quickly change sinkers to adjust for the river’s
flow. Back bouncing is done from an anchored boat in a large river. The
rig is lowered and bounced back downstream by raising the rod tip to
straight-up and lowering it while you release line. This way you walk or
back bounce the terminal tackle to the portion of the hole that you want
to fish. Usually minnows such as sardines or herring are used, but cured
salmon egg clusters are also used.

Keel and banana sinkers are useful for trolling. Their shape prevents line
twisting. The sinker rides through the water at an even plane. This forces
the swivel to work. All sorts of lures

and baits can be trolled behind these types of sinkers. Adjust the
sinker’s weight and your trolling speed to place the lure just over
or under the fish.

There are other sinkers designed for specific purposes, but the ones
I’ve mentioned are my top picks.